Life on Merseyside has started rather better than Joe Gomez may have initially anticipated, with the defender set to retain his starting spot for Liverpool's trip to Arsenal little over 12 months since making his full senior debut.
Gomez only made his full debut for Charlton Athletic in a League Cup debut against Colchester United just over a year ago, and admits he's played "far more than expected" with the Reds thus far.
The 18-year-old made the switch from the Valley in June in a £3.5 million deal, but has since become a regular in Brendan Rodgers' first-team - playing at left-back in their first two Premier League games of the season.
And things have gone exceptionally well with Gomez having helped keep back-to-back wins and clean sheets against Stoke City and Bournemouth.
The young defender went under the radar when he first signed but soon impressed on a hugely successful pre-season tour across the Far East and Australia and has since thrived in an unfamiliar left-sided role - though the Reds see his long-term future at centre-half.
Defender says he's featured "far more" than he first thought he would
Catford-born Gomez admitted "it probably hasn't really sunk in yet" that he's become such a prominent figure so early on in his Liverpool career, adding that he's "just trying to keep going and keep working."
The England under-19 international, who will no doubt have impressed coaches in the internatioanl set-up with his form, revealed that he's featured "far more" than he expected having played the first two games.
It was initially thought that Gomez would go out on loan, until his sensational form in pre-season convinced Rodgers otherwise, and he insisted his aim was always "to try and get into the team."
Asked about his experience so far, the teenager insisted that he's "enjoying it" and is "happy to have played" so often, particularly given the Reds have "got two good wins."
He said "it's been great so far" despite the fact it's "early doors" and still only two weeks into a "long season" - adding that there will be lots more hard work to be done to "try to stay in the team."
Gomez trying to stay grounded despite praise
Asked if he's paid any attention to the tremendous praise and commendation which he's received from his manager, ex-professionals and by supporters on various forms of social network, Gomez said he's remaining grounded.
Whilst saying he "appreciates all of the positivity and the messages" he doesn't want to "pay too much attention to it all" as he wants to stay focused on the next game to ensure he remains in the starting eleven.
Gomez says he tends to analyse his performances himself, but that he gets plenty of outside feedback from the manager, the coaches and his family - but that "there's a lot of work to be done."
And whilst he seems to have adjusted to life in the top-flight almost seamlessly, Gomez also confessed that he's still got plenty to learn.
He talked about the "different qualities" in opponents and in the general quality of football, explaining that "the tempo is a lot higher" when asked about the differences between the Premier League and the Championship, where he played with Charlton.
The defender said he's still "adjusting" and that he's "still learning" - even in training with the rest of his new team-mates, whom he labelled "top quality players" who help him get the best out of his game.